When the news reached my ears that Aldi was launching a £60 "Dyson rival" stick vacuum cleaner, my heart sank a bit. After two years of reviewing stick vacuums, one of the biggest things I learned is that ultra-cheap vacuums are almost always a big old waste of money.
My rule of thumb with vacuums is that the absolute cheapest you can go is around £150. Listen, I'm sorry. I know that's still a decent chunk of change, and especially for a gadget that no one really enjoys using. But if you want a vacuum that's going to do more than gently brush your carpet while emitting a light breeze of suction, you'll need to absorb the cost.
Below, I've rounded up my top affordable stick vacuum picks. My #1 choice is the Dreame R20, which sits right at the top of our best budget vacuum ranking and delivers very capable cleaning, a lightweight and maneuverable build, and some bonus advanced features, all for an extremely reasonable price. Shark is also a solid brand to look at — its range is sprawling, and prices fluctuate regularly, but it rarely disappoints on performance, and there's usually a discounted option in the lineup that's worth snapping up.
Read on for 6 budget vacuum cleaners I'd buy instead of Aldi's newest option. Or, if you're interested in how these picks compare on the wider market, head to my general best cordless vacuum guide.
Brilliant budget vacs
Dreame R20 cordless vacuum
Pros
- Lightweight and manoeuvrable
- Excellent suction performance
- Good selection of tools
- Exceptional battery life
- Very competitive price point
Cons
- Power trigger is over sensitive
- Slightly annoying whiney noise in use
- No low-power mode
Dyson V8 cordless vacuum
Pros
- Affordable for a Dyson
- Versatile 2-in-1 design
- Well-designed
- Useful attachments
- Still impressive suction
Cons
- Long recharge time
- Small bin
- Not as powerful as newer models
- Lacks some useful features
Ultenic U16 Flex Cordless Stick Vacuum
